The children's sci-fi series Thunderbirds is to return to television in a new
series after an absence of 45 years, its creator Gerry Anderson said
yesterday.

"Thunderbirds are go!" became a catchphrase for generations of schoolboys after the original series launched in 1965.

The puppet heroes, led by Jeff Tracy, his sons Scott and Virgil, and their friend Lady Penelope, also spawned the catchphrases "F.A.B." and "Yes, m'lady".

Based on the remote Tracy Island, the swashbuckling family rescued the innocent from disasters the world over using their fleet of Thunderbirds rescue craft - and fought intercontinental evil, particularly in the form of chief baddie The Hood.

But despite the enduring popularity of the series and massive sales for its merchandise - particularly models of the Thunderbirds aircraft - only 32 episodes were ever made, the last in 1966.

A live action movie starring Bill Paxton was made in 2004, but was critically panned and a box office flop.

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However speaking on Radio 5 Live yesterday to promote a new set of Thunderbirds stamps that are being issued by Royal Mail, Mr Anderson - who is now 81 - confirmed that he is to make a new television series.

The "Fanderson" fan website said last night that Mr Anderson had confirmed that "he has finalised a deal to to make a new series of Thunderbirds", but that he had not given any further details.

The biggest question for the producers of the new series will be whether to cast live actors as the Tracy family heroes - or to continue, in time-honoured tradition, in "Supermarionation".